Lukač claims extremists are coming from Serbia, FBiH and Croatia: Police will retaliate if attacked

Minister of Interior of Republika Srpska Dragan Lukač called on all citizens of Banja Luka and Republika Srpska to be aware that conflicts are not necessary because they can only cause great damage, and he hopes that everyone has enough political experience to present their demands and views on the situation in Republika Srpska without violence, conflict, injuries to people and material destruction, reports the Patria news agency.

He warned that the Ministry of Interior has information about the arrival of extremist groups from Serbia, Croatia and the Federation of BiH with bad intentions, and that some are already in Republika Srpska and have been placed under control.

-Any intention of theirs to cause any conflict will be sanctioned. There is information that by initiating a conflict with the police, they would deliberately set off a larger mass with the intention of occupying certain buildings in the city, such as the National Assembly and the Government, said Minister Lukač.

He stated that the police will secure all those buildings, and that more than 2,000 police officers will be engaged, and anyone who attacks any institution will be sanctioned, as well as the organizers.

The Minister of Interior emphasized that the Police of Republika Srpska is capable of securing large gatherings and ensuring they are held peacefully, but it cannot allow two gatherings to meet.

-We prevented movement to avoid conflict because, according to our information, there are tensions, groups and individuals ready to cause conflicts. If they start a march, the organizers will be punished, Minister Lukač pointed out.

Minister Lukač emphasized that the police will retaliate if attacked, and that any provocations will be sanctioned. He said that no change of route for any gathering will be approved, and if anyone starts a protest march, the organizers will be held responsible.

-In all buses arriving in Banja Luka, there will be a police officer, and transport companies are obliged to make lists of passengers in the buses, which the police will have. All passengers will be searched, to ensure they do not have any weapons, Minister Lukač emphasized.

-At all entrances to the city, checkpoints will be set up where police patrols will meet the buses and escort them to the gatherings, and after the gatherings, under police escort, the buses will be brought to the meeting point where they will pick up participants and take them out of the city under escort, Minister Lukač explained, adding that the routes will also be secured.

He stated that the police in Banja Luka will control and direct traffic at multiple locations, and barriers in the form of fences will be set up to prevent participants of the gatherings from meeting.

The Minister of Interior assessed that the gatherings are high-risk, and that such two gatherings have never occurred in Republika Srpska, and that the Ministry of Interior also considered the possibility of banning the gatherings, but due to the organizers' statements guaranteeing peaceful rallies, the Ministry did not want to prevent them from doing so.